Poppy help wanted

Volunteers are urgently needed to help with this year’s Poppy Appeal in Lytham and St Annes.

Last year, the appeal raised £30,000 – but through various circumstances, a substantial number of those who helped last year are unavailable.

So local appeal organiser Spencer Leader wants to hear from anyone who can help.

Mr Leader, president of the St Annes Branch of the British Legion and involved with the Poppy Appeal for more than 40 years, said: “We are so grateful to the people show solidarity to our brave service people by helping to collect and contributing to such a good cause..

“Unfortunately, a quarter of the volunteers from last year are unavailable for various reasons, including sickness and holidays.

“The November appeal raises approximately two thirds of the total funding needed to sustain the many worthwhile projects, including providing homes, convalescent care, training, jobs and pension counselling, so if anyone can help us by collecting for a few hours during the next fortnight, we would be delighted to hear from them.”

Mr Leader has delivered more than 200 boxes of poppies and collection tins to shops and local businesses and will be out collecting with other volunteers from this weekend until Remembrance Sunday. Anyone who can help should call (01253) 713925 or 07864 103200, or see the volunteers in St Annes Square or on Clifton Street, Lytham near Santander bank.